Anticipation that has gripped Ohio’s farm community for months recently culminated in a conference room when a dairy farmer took the microphone, stood up among 600 of his peers and declared, “We are going to win this. We are going to win.”

If you think it’s always clear who owns the mineral rights to a piece of land, you might want to think again. With the explosion in oil and natural gas drilling, some of those mineral rights could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to the owner.

After studying State Issue 1, which will appear on the May ballot, Ohio Farm Bureau’s board of trustees is encouraging a “Yes” vote. Here’s some background on the issue so you can make an informed decision.

At a time when all the world’s information can fit in your pocket, the rules for remaining relevant to your customers are quickly changing. Whether you’re using social media to agvocate or to try to do business, how do you rise above the noise?